FOR most of us, it’s not second nature to be kind. We are, whether we admit it or not, all selfish -- in varying degrees. But there are some of us who are kind. There are some of us who fight valiantly to subdue our innate selfishness. There are some of us who DARE to be kind. And one of the kindest people I know is my husband. Many people tell me the same thing.
My husband turned 60 last September. Five years ago, while he was giving a talk, he suffered a stroke. But by God’s grace, he wasn’t paralyzed. His motor skills were intact. All his five senses were preserved. He didn’t slur. He didn’t drool. His face didn’t wilt to one side. But what got affected was his word retrieval system. He couldn’t find the right words for things -- for example, if you asked him what he was drinking, he would say "citrus" instead of "kalamansi." (The stroke re-wired his brain from Pinoy to Continental! That was our private joke.) But his physical recovery was fast. In six months, he was able to play tennis again.
Dr. Alran Bengzon, my husband’s neurologist at the time, was so kind to my husband. Both Ateneans, they somehow spoke a kindred language. They shared this wry, Ateneo sense of humor that was both cerebral and homespun. When Dr. Bengzon asked my husband some diagnostic questions, I couldn’t help but laugh:
The way Dr. Bengzon handled that first interview was crucial to my husband, to me, to our family. From a deep, dark abyss of uncertainty, foreboding and dread, he gave us hope. He was just so kind. His bedside manner was perfect -- paternal, professional, warm -- with just enough humor to lighten up a very tense situation. After talking to my husband and sharing a few more laughs with him, the good doctor gently led me to one side. He showed me Ito’s brain scans. He patiently and unhurriedly explained what had happened inside my husband’s brain, and what probably caused the stroke. All of a sudden, my fears died down. I felt this doctor’s kindness, his concern for my husband was palpable and real.
To all the doctors out there, I make this plea: Dare to be kind to your patients. Your sincere concern makes a whole world of difference to our emotional well-being in the midst of a medical crisis. Treat your patients as people, not just numbers or "cases." Don’t be cold or curt. Don’t be in such a hurry when you talk to us, skipping important details that you think we might not understand. I can’t forget how Dr. Bengzon explained things to me patiently, unhurriedly, in word pictures I could understand. Just as a father would to his daughter. And you know what? It was his first time to meet Ito and me. We weren’t VIPs. But he treated us like we were. A very dear friend, Tess, called Dr. Bengzon and asked him to be Ito’s attending physician. Our family will never, ever forget their kindness to us -- at a time when we needed it most. They dared to be kind.
When my husband was cleared to go back to work, I bought him a new office ref so he could have fruits within easy reach whenever he got hungry. One of our friends filled his ref with fresh fruits and juices. She did that for some time, so I didn’t even have to restock my husband’s ref. She dared to be kind. Another person put an air purifier right in front of my husband’s desk, and asked if there was anything else he needed. That person dared to be kind. Friends sent lots of food, books, DVDs, lent their drivers, offered to get our test results, recommended their doctors, texted me incessantly to ask how Ito was, prayed without ceasing for his fast recovery. We were inundated with kindness in all forms, shapes and sizes.
I particularly remember a dear friend who gave Ito six huge workbooks . She ordered the books from abroad. When we showed the workbooks to Ito’s therapist, she was in AWE. She said that these were very expensive, state-of-the-art workbooks which any therapist would die to have in her library! Along with the workbooks were two video iPods which our friend also gave us -- she had loaded it with Ito’s favorite TV series so that he wouldn’t get bored while waiting in doctors’ offices. She also gave me a video iPod for myself, to keep me entertained while waiting with Ito. Mine was loaded with thousands of songs, a couple of movies, and lots of TV shows that will probably last me till I’m 90! How thoughtful of her. How kind. Our friend knew that Ito and I are Jurassic, so she took the trouble of loading the iPods for us. She DARED to be kind.
When my husband went back to work, one of the things I was observing was how his colleagues would treat him when he went back to the office. Well, there were people who were kind (God bless their hearts.) And there were people who were very, very unkind. It was a shock to me how some stayed away from him like he was a social pariah. Before his stroke, my husband held a responsible position, so people would often crowd around his office, waiting to talk to him with documents and checks and what-nots that needed his perusal or approval. But all of a sudden, after his stroke, Ito’s office was like a barren, desolate wasteland. In his absence, his things were transferred. He was relocated to a smaller space. When I checked what he was going back to, I was flabbergasted: his things were in boxes, in total disarray. So I fixed my husband’s office to make it look presentable, welcoming, a pleasant work environment for him.
Unfortunately, more bad things were waiting for him at work. Much worse than the stroke, a series of "unfortunate incidents" hit him from left field. My husband was slowly but surely stripped of his responsibilities, his authority, and people were removed from his supervision without any explanation. Never mind about showing kindness. All that the situation called for was a semblance of professionalism -- especially since my husband had served with a sterling record for more than a decade. All it took was a modicum of decency to tell him, "Hey, Ito, we don’t want to stress you out with lots of work right now. We want you to rest for a while. You deserve a good rest, after all your hard work. So we decided to divide your work among us. Hope you won’t mind if we come to you for advice now and then!" (Or words to that effect.) It would’ve taken only 20 minutes to sit down with him in a meeting, to show him a little kindness. But, alas, no such kindness was shown to him.
By God’s grace, my husband is a fighter by nature. Maybe it’s because he has played in tennis tournaments since he was twelve. That way, he developed nerves of steel. He was one of Ateneo’s youngest varsity tennis captains. He was trained to show grace under pressure, to hang tough, to keep on playing against all odds, and not to choke when it was finally Match Point. It’s one of the reasons why I really look up to him.
So, when my husband was summarily shelved aside with no explanation, his nerves of steel and innate calmness surfaced . Instead of wallowing in self-pity or bitterness or frustration, he thought of other things to do for the organization -- without being asked. In a way, he reinvented himself. He said, "Well, I will do what I can do to contribute whatever good I can. There’s always something useful to do." Fighting words, all right. And a lot of it, I believe, comes from an Atenean’s indomitable spirit. After all, every blue-blooded Atenean’s rallying cry is "ONE BIG FIGHT!!!" But more than that, I know that Ito’s vast reserve of strength, his tenacity to overcome, came from one limitless source of hope, strength, and kindness: GOD.
I am writing this not because I’m bitter. Not to pillory those people who were unkind to my husband in his time of need. Maybe they just weren’t equipped to respond with compassion. Maybe they grew up not receiving any kindness. Maybe they were going through their own trials at the time. Or maybe they were just too dense and insensitive (as I am at times). At the end of the day, whatever our reasons are for being unkind, we are all answerable to God.
I’m writing this to remind myself (and you, as you’re reading this) that it takes so little to be kind. It takes so little to prop up someone’s sagging spirits. It takes so little to make people feel they’re valuable human beings. It takes so little to assure a person: "Hey, it’s going to be okay. We can do this together. We’re right here with you!" Well, thank goodness, there were many people who rallied around us and constantly showed us kindness, over the long haul. Many of our friends surprised us that way!
Now that our lives have gone back to normal, it doesn’t hurt anymore to recall such a disturbing lack of compassion. In fact, one of my best life lessons came out of that traumatic situation: in any circumstance, each of us has a choice -- to be kind, or to be unkind. Our family survived one of the worst crises in our lives because many, many people dared to be kind.
2012年1月29日星期日
2011年12月27日星期二
Chinese turn to U.S. for clarity in smog data
The Beijing smog often keeps Zhushen Zhenyu trapped at home, on his mother’s orders, when he’d rather be playing basketball outside, but the 8-year-old still hopes for a silver lining in the clouds of pollution choking China’s capital.
“When will the air quality be so bad we don’t have to go to school?” he asked a city official one recent smoggy day.
“That depends on government policy,” was the cryptic reply of Li Yunting, an engineer at the Beijing Environmental Monitoring Center, which opened to public visits last month.
The doubts about official pollution data keep piling up for China’s government, as green activists, celebrity bloggers and ordinary citizens increasingly demand action and information to halt the environmental fall-out from decades of breakneck economic growth.
Burning coal is largely responsible for the oppressive smog, which the United Nations has rated the worst in the world. China has more than doubled its coal consumption in the past 10 years but has not kept pace with the clean-air technology found in the West. It also relies on cheaper forms of coal that emit more pollutants, and Beijing’s nearly 5 million cars do not generally meet the standards of the USA.
The past two months have been dire. The high incidence of heavy air pollution has sent many residents rushing to buy face masks, air purifiers and household plants believed to clean dirty air.
The haze has highlighted discrepancies between the government’s robustly sunny statistics and the far scarier numbers recorded and issued by the U.S. Embassy here. Beijing described the air pollution as “light” on December 4, a smog-filled day that forced the city airport, the world’s second busiest, to cancel hundreds of flights because of poor visibility. The embassy reading was “beyond index,” literally off the measurement charts that stop at “hazardous.”
The embassy measurements, begun in 2008 and issued hourly via Twitter, use a standard employed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to measure tiny airborne particles, such as soot from burning gas in cars, that are under 2.5 micrometers in diameter.
Experts consider these particles most damaging to human health, as they are small enough to penetrate the lungs and blood, potentially causing lung cancer and other diseases.
China publishes figures using a standard that measures coarser particular matter such as dust and keeps secret, for internal research, the measurements of smaller particles its scientists collect.
Despite the Chinese government’s blocking of Twitter, the U.S. Embassy figures are widely circulated in Beijing on Chinese websites or microblogs. In recent weeks, celebrity bloggers such as real estate mogul Pan Shiyi and children’s author Zheng Yuanjie have pressured Chinese officials to give a more accurate picture of air quality.
Yu Ping, a Beijing journalist and father of a 6-year-old boy who, like him, has suffered a sore throat in recent weeks, threatens to sue the municipal environmental protection agency if they don’t respond to his request for the recent data.
“This is very important for me, my son and all citizens of Beijing and China,” he says.
Yu’s quest has inspired several other Chinese to demand data from their city governments, Yu says. He is grateful to the U.S. government for its transparency, but “it should be the Chinese government that does this,” he says.
Some Beijingers, such as Wang Jinlan, say the U.S. government should mind its own business. Her daughter Du Lanxin, 8, says they filled their house with special plants last month to purify the air.
“Our home is better now, but when I go out, it’s sometimes very hard to breathe,” she says. Her mother drives her to school every day rather than breathe the smog on a bicycle or bus, but in doing so, she adds to the city’s clogged, polluted streets.
Hua Lei, vice director of the center, insists that, over the past two years, Beijing’s air quality has improved. She says the center measures small particulates in the air but does not release the data because the public “won’t understand the figures.”
Environmentalist Feng Yongfeng, founder of the environmental group Green Beagle, has been lending air-quality monitoring equipment to companies and communities since May.
“As a government, you must let the people know the worst level of air quality,” he says.
Under growing pressure, Beijing is now revising national air-quality monitoring standards and promises to require the release of data on smaller particulates — by 2016.
Environmental consultant Steven Andrews, an American based in Beijing, says the problem is that China’s “target culture” means officials, fearful for their jobs, distort pollution levels to ensure they meet government benchmarks.
Even under the new standards, “levels will still be called good in Beijing that would be in the unhealthy range in the U.S,” he says.
“The air is dangerous; it will cause cancer,” says Sam Zhang, 41, a vegetable wholesaler who signed up for the monitoring center visit. He says he trusts the U.S. Embassy figures over his own government’s data.
“Taxpayers pay the government officials’ salaries, so they should tell the truth about air quality,” he says, “but they are not elected by the people, so we have no hope they will tell the truth.”
“When will the air quality be so bad we don’t have to go to school?” he asked a city official one recent smoggy day.
“That depends on government policy,” was the cryptic reply of Li Yunting, an engineer at the Beijing Environmental Monitoring Center, which opened to public visits last month.
The doubts about official pollution data keep piling up for China’s government, as green activists, celebrity bloggers and ordinary citizens increasingly demand action and information to halt the environmental fall-out from decades of breakneck economic growth.
Burning coal is largely responsible for the oppressive smog, which the United Nations has rated the worst in the world. China has more than doubled its coal consumption in the past 10 years but has not kept pace with the clean-air technology found in the West. It also relies on cheaper forms of coal that emit more pollutants, and Beijing’s nearly 5 million cars do not generally meet the standards of the USA.
The past two months have been dire. The high incidence of heavy air pollution has sent many residents rushing to buy face masks, air purifiers and household plants believed to clean dirty air.
The haze has highlighted discrepancies between the government’s robustly sunny statistics and the far scarier numbers recorded and issued by the U.S. Embassy here. Beijing described the air pollution as “light” on December 4, a smog-filled day that forced the city airport, the world’s second busiest, to cancel hundreds of flights because of poor visibility. The embassy reading was “beyond index,” literally off the measurement charts that stop at “hazardous.”
The embassy measurements, begun in 2008 and issued hourly via Twitter, use a standard employed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to measure tiny airborne particles, such as soot from burning gas in cars, that are under 2.5 micrometers in diameter.
Experts consider these particles most damaging to human health, as they are small enough to penetrate the lungs and blood, potentially causing lung cancer and other diseases.
China publishes figures using a standard that measures coarser particular matter such as dust and keeps secret, for internal research, the measurements of smaller particles its scientists collect.
Despite the Chinese government’s blocking of Twitter, the U.S. Embassy figures are widely circulated in Beijing on Chinese websites or microblogs. In recent weeks, celebrity bloggers such as real estate mogul Pan Shiyi and children’s author Zheng Yuanjie have pressured Chinese officials to give a more accurate picture of air quality.
Yu Ping, a Beijing journalist and father of a 6-year-old boy who, like him, has suffered a sore throat in recent weeks, threatens to sue the municipal environmental protection agency if they don’t respond to his request for the recent data.
“This is very important for me, my son and all citizens of Beijing and China,” he says.
Yu’s quest has inspired several other Chinese to demand data from their city governments, Yu says. He is grateful to the U.S. government for its transparency, but “it should be the Chinese government that does this,” he says.
Some Beijingers, such as Wang Jinlan, say the U.S. government should mind its own business. Her daughter Du Lanxin, 8, says they filled their house with special plants last month to purify the air.
“Our home is better now, but when I go out, it’s sometimes very hard to breathe,” she says. Her mother drives her to school every day rather than breathe the smog on a bicycle or bus, but in doing so, she adds to the city’s clogged, polluted streets.
Hua Lei, vice director of the center, insists that, over the past two years, Beijing’s air quality has improved. She says the center measures small particulates in the air but does not release the data because the public “won’t understand the figures.”
Environmentalist Feng Yongfeng, founder of the environmental group Green Beagle, has been lending air-quality monitoring equipment to companies and communities since May.
“As a government, you must let the people know the worst level of air quality,” he says.
Under growing pressure, Beijing is now revising national air-quality monitoring standards and promises to require the release of data on smaller particulates — by 2016.
Environmental consultant Steven Andrews, an American based in Beijing, says the problem is that China’s “target culture” means officials, fearful for their jobs, distort pollution levels to ensure they meet government benchmarks.
Even under the new standards, “levels will still be called good in Beijing that would be in the unhealthy range in the U.S,” he says.
“The air is dangerous; it will cause cancer,” says Sam Zhang, 41, a vegetable wholesaler who signed up for the monitoring center visit. He says he trusts the U.S. Embassy figures over his own government’s data.
“Taxpayers pay the government officials’ salaries, so they should tell the truth about air quality,” he says, “but they are not elected by the people, so we have no hope they will tell the truth.”
2011年12月4日星期日
Pet Allergies Air Purifier - 5 Features A Highly Effective Cleaner Should Need
If being around your pet causes you to sneeze, become stuffed up, and rub applying water eyes, you may be allergic to your beloved pet. Using a good air cleaner will help. And here are generally 5 features that can insure effectiveness.
HEPA Technology - This can be the type of filtering hospitals use to insure clean air because it has proven itself to become incredibly efficient with removing airborne dust. As an allergy sufferer you are aware of all too well the many airborne particles that can trigger a flare-up. Pet related particulates such as dander can accumulate to this level that you can hardly stand to stay the same room with the pet you absolutely adore.
Other more normal particulates when paired with those from Beethoven, Light, or Rio may establish just as several problems. Normal household dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, bacteria and viruses can be found in everyone's dwelling, regardless of how clean it's. And these working in consultation with the pets' particle might make the air heavy with allergens.
By definition HEPA filters must be capable to remove airborne particulates no more than. 3 microns proportions with a micron being looked as one millionth on the meter. That makes any such filter able to eliminate the many airborne particles on top of with 99. 97% productivity.
Carbon-Based Filter -- Every animal has its own unique scent among them humans. We bathe in addition to use personal items to mask our more natural and not always more pleasant scent. Pets lack that option. So with animals there is going to be some smell.
To be a pet lover, you might be probably far more tolerant (or it could be that don't even notice) this smell. Friends, family, and others that visit your home are probably not as forgiving. Carbon has been recognized as the most effective type of filter lower gaseous pollutants. And there's merely no sense with bringing an air cleanser home that can't remove odor.
Carbon does possibly not discriminate about the species of odors it will remove. Gases, scents, and airborne chemicals from any source will be eliminated by filtering air with carbon.
360 Degree Daily allowance - This feature is really important because it provides the most options concerning placement of this cleaner. Because it may possibly pull air because of all sides with a 6 inch clearance it is possible to put it in the corner, down low, or up high and it's going to equally effective. Units without that feature often has to be placed in the heart of the room to operate well.
Split Capacitor Motor - It is critical to look for such a motor in that technical specifications of the unit. This type of motor should run safely and additionally continuously without needed time for them to rest or cool-down. This means that air can be continually filtered in the gaseous and particulate allergens that can cause flare ups.
5-Year Filter Service - A purifier that requires you to restore the filter every 6 months to a year to work and/or to useful warranty active provides significantly to the money necessary for the unit. Figuring out about this secured in a dark minor detail are able to derail your capacity to keep the air filtered and unfortunately your pet allergies mastered.
It will take a little attention to the fine print to check for these 5 features, but you will reap the benefits 24 hours a day every day. And you stand a better chance of having the capability to manage your allergies and save your pet. Doesn't making it all worthwhile?
HEPA Technology - This can be the type of filtering hospitals use to insure clean air because it has proven itself to become incredibly efficient with removing airborne dust. As an allergy sufferer you are aware of all too well the many airborne particles that can trigger a flare-up. Pet related particulates such as dander can accumulate to this level that you can hardly stand to stay the same room with the pet you absolutely adore.
Other more normal particulates when paired with those from Beethoven, Light, or Rio may establish just as several problems. Normal household dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, bacteria and viruses can be found in everyone's dwelling, regardless of how clean it's. And these working in consultation with the pets' particle might make the air heavy with allergens.
By definition HEPA filters must be capable to remove airborne particulates no more than. 3 microns proportions with a micron being looked as one millionth on the meter. That makes any such filter able to eliminate the many airborne particles on top of with 99. 97% productivity.
Carbon-Based Filter -- Every animal has its own unique scent among them humans. We bathe in addition to use personal items to mask our more natural and not always more pleasant scent. Pets lack that option. So with animals there is going to be some smell.
To be a pet lover, you might be probably far more tolerant (or it could be that don't even notice) this smell. Friends, family, and others that visit your home are probably not as forgiving. Carbon has been recognized as the most effective type of filter lower gaseous pollutants. And there's merely no sense with bringing an air cleanser home that can't remove odor.
Carbon does possibly not discriminate about the species of odors it will remove. Gases, scents, and airborne chemicals from any source will be eliminated by filtering air with carbon.
360 Degree Daily allowance - This feature is really important because it provides the most options concerning placement of this cleaner. Because it may possibly pull air because of all sides with a 6 inch clearance it is possible to put it in the corner, down low, or up high and it's going to equally effective. Units without that feature often has to be placed in the heart of the room to operate well.
Split Capacitor Motor - It is critical to look for such a motor in that technical specifications of the unit. This type of motor should run safely and additionally continuously without needed time for them to rest or cool-down. This means that air can be continually filtered in the gaseous and particulate allergens that can cause flare ups.
5-Year Filter Service - A purifier that requires you to restore the filter every 6 months to a year to work and/or to useful warranty active provides significantly to the money necessary for the unit. Figuring out about this secured in a dark minor detail are able to derail your capacity to keep the air filtered and unfortunately your pet allergies mastered.
It will take a little attention to the fine print to check for these 5 features, but you will reap the benefits 24 hours a day every day. And you stand a better chance of having the capability to manage your allergies and save your pet. Doesn't making it all worthwhile?
2011年11月28日星期一
HEPA Air Purifiers AirInstinct Monitors Air at its Smart Sensor
Oreck Corporation, a leading manufacturer of quality products in the homecare industry, introduces two new HEPA air purifiers to its lineup with AirInstinct 100 and AirInstinct 200. Both models feature a three-year HEPA filter and are ENERGY STAR qualified.
Unlike most air purifiers that offer different speeds but leave users wondering when to turn it on and at what speed, Oreck’s AirInstinct 100 and AirInstinct 200 continuously monitor particles in the air passing through its Smart Air Sensors and adjust airflow speed accordingly. Both models utilize Oreck’s unique PATH (Pre-filter, Anti-odor,True HEPA) filtration system that enables users to “turn it on and walk away.” A four-color lighting system lets users know when the unit is working and at what speed.
“With AirInstinct 100 and AirInstinct 200, Oreck has merged advanced technology, superior design and HEPA filtration into smart air purifiers that take the guesswork out of the process for the user,” says Scott Vogel, Chief Marketing Officer, Oreck.
The Oreck AirInstinct 100 comes with a three-year HEPA filter and a one-year odor filter installed. The Oreck AirInstinct 200 comes with a three-year HEPA filter and a three-year odor filter installed. Filter life on both the HEPA and odor filters will vary with usage and environment. Additionally, AirInstinct 200 has two extra features, a power saving and a sleep mode, both of which minimize energy consumption.
Airflow speed is adjusted automatically when unit is set on automode. Particle reduction and air circulation depend on many factors. All air in a room may not pass through the filter.
Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Oreck Corporation is a leading manufacturer in the homecare industry, offering a variety of vacuum, air purification and other cleaning products. Oreck sells its products in hundreds of Oreck Clean Home Centers, as well as through phone and online direct sales.
Unlike most air purifiers that offer different speeds but leave users wondering when to turn it on and at what speed, Oreck’s AirInstinct 100 and AirInstinct 200 continuously monitor particles in the air passing through its Smart Air Sensors and adjust airflow speed accordingly. Both models utilize Oreck’s unique PATH (Pre-filter, Anti-odor,True HEPA) filtration system that enables users to “turn it on and walk away.” A four-color lighting system lets users know when the unit is working and at what speed.
“With AirInstinct 100 and AirInstinct 200, Oreck has merged advanced technology, superior design and HEPA filtration into smart air purifiers that take the guesswork out of the process for the user,” says Scott Vogel, Chief Marketing Officer, Oreck.
The Oreck AirInstinct 100 comes with a three-year HEPA filter and a one-year odor filter installed. The Oreck AirInstinct 200 comes with a three-year HEPA filter and a three-year odor filter installed. Filter life on both the HEPA and odor filters will vary with usage and environment. Additionally, AirInstinct 200 has two extra features, a power saving and a sleep mode, both of which minimize energy consumption.
Airflow speed is adjusted automatically when unit is set on automode. Particle reduction and air circulation depend on many factors. All air in a room may not pass through the filter.
Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Oreck Corporation is a leading manufacturer in the homecare industry, offering a variety of vacuum, air purification and other cleaning products. Oreck sells its products in hundreds of Oreck Clean Home Centers, as well as through phone and online direct sales.
2011年10月10日星期一
Simple solution to clean, healthy home
Hot, soapy water with a bit of elbow grease and an open window are cleaner, greener and much less toxic substitutes for the array of chemical household cleaners and air fresheners that abound in most homes, according to a WA environmental toxicologist.
They are also much cheaper.
Mirella Goetzmann, from the WA Health Department, said many people were very hung up about being germ-free - but the answer was not to go on the attack using chemical sprays.
"Most times you don't need to have products that claim they kill 99 per cent of household germs," she said.
"Hot, soapy water will do the job just as well. If you need to get stubborn stains off, use a cream cleaner rather than something you spray."
Ms Goetzmann said one surface cleaner would probably suffice for the whole house because those used in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry might well have the same active ingredient.
Nicole Bijlsma, author of Healthy Home, Healthy Family, said the most important cleaning agent was a good set of microfibre cloths and mop.
"The beauty about the way they work is that they pick up the bacteria in the dirt and are not chemically mutating them … and are not creating super-germs," she said.
"The obsession with germs is really a problem in our society."
Ms Goetzmann said if people did use household products that contained chemicals, it was important to be mindful of the amount of time spent using them.
"Any domestic cleaner you pick off the shelf represents a hazard but it also depends on the exposure, how it's used, how often it's used and how much is used," she said. "If you are using it as directed by the label and you are careful ... the risk is very low."
If someone was not comfortable with following the safety instructions such as putting on gloves or opening a window when using a product, perhaps they shouldn't use the product, she said.
"Just take a minute to think about why you are using a product and in terms of safety, be aware that the safety label is there for a reason," she said.
"It is important to use only the recommended amounts and not to mix cleaning products because you don't know what the reaction might be; for example, don't mix common household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or a bleach-based product with other chemicals."
Bleach and bleach-based toilet cleaners should not be used with vinegar or ammonia.
"We have had examples of individuals who have quite innocently gone to town to really clean a toilet and applied a toilet cleaner and then used an ammonia solution or vinegar solution and produced vapours that have knocked them out," Ms Goetzmann said.
Air fresheners, including plug-in ones, emitted chemicals and particulates into the air that were then inhaled. Small particles and aerosols could go deep into the lungs.
"We would be concerned about people who would prefer to always spray air fresheners rather than open a window," she said.
Ozone generators as air purifiers were no better than sprays.
"The amount of ozone that is needed to counteract an indoor pollutant or odour is up at the harmful levels," she said. The small ones for home use were useless, including the personal ones aimed at baby's rooms.
"Ozone is actually more harmful to lungs than probably the thing you are trying to get rid of," Ms Goetzmann said.
If people insisted on using an air cleaner, they should ensure it had a HEPA or fine particle filter and a powerful air exchange capacity.
Even plain candles gave off particulates, while scented candles and incense gave off chemicals and particulates.
"Some people may not be aware that plug-in room fresheners and candles emit chemicals," Ms Goetzmann said.
"The answer is to use them sparingly and wisely and then you can enjoy them. Don't put them in children's rooms, because babies and young children are more vulnerable to eye, nose and lung irritation."
Indoor air quality was becoming more important as homes were becoming more energy efficient. Indoor air was not being ventilated or replaced as often, so air quality deteriorated.
Householders should also be careful to ensure their gas heaters were flued and serviced regularly.
They are also much cheaper.
Mirella Goetzmann, from the WA Health Department, said many people were very hung up about being germ-free - but the answer was not to go on the attack using chemical sprays.
"Most times you don't need to have products that claim they kill 99 per cent of household germs," she said.
"Hot, soapy water will do the job just as well. If you need to get stubborn stains off, use a cream cleaner rather than something you spray."
Ms Goetzmann said one surface cleaner would probably suffice for the whole house because those used in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry might well have the same active ingredient.
Nicole Bijlsma, author of Healthy Home, Healthy Family, said the most important cleaning agent was a good set of microfibre cloths and mop.
"The beauty about the way they work is that they pick up the bacteria in the dirt and are not chemically mutating them … and are not creating super-germs," she said.
"The obsession with germs is really a problem in our society."
Ms Goetzmann said if people did use household products that contained chemicals, it was important to be mindful of the amount of time spent using them.
"Any domestic cleaner you pick off the shelf represents a hazard but it also depends on the exposure, how it's used, how often it's used and how much is used," she said. "If you are using it as directed by the label and you are careful ... the risk is very low."
If someone was not comfortable with following the safety instructions such as putting on gloves or opening a window when using a product, perhaps they shouldn't use the product, she said.
"Just take a minute to think about why you are using a product and in terms of safety, be aware that the safety label is there for a reason," she said.
"It is important to use only the recommended amounts and not to mix cleaning products because you don't know what the reaction might be; for example, don't mix common household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or a bleach-based product with other chemicals."
Bleach and bleach-based toilet cleaners should not be used with vinegar or ammonia.
"We have had examples of individuals who have quite innocently gone to town to really clean a toilet and applied a toilet cleaner and then used an ammonia solution or vinegar solution and produced vapours that have knocked them out," Ms Goetzmann said.
Air fresheners, including plug-in ones, emitted chemicals and particulates into the air that were then inhaled. Small particles and aerosols could go deep into the lungs.
"We would be concerned about people who would prefer to always spray air fresheners rather than open a window," she said.
Ozone generators as air purifiers were no better than sprays.
"The amount of ozone that is needed to counteract an indoor pollutant or odour is up at the harmful levels," she said. The small ones for home use were useless, including the personal ones aimed at baby's rooms.
"Ozone is actually more harmful to lungs than probably the thing you are trying to get rid of," Ms Goetzmann said.
If people insisted on using an air cleaner, they should ensure it had a HEPA or fine particle filter and a powerful air exchange capacity.
Even plain candles gave off particulates, while scented candles and incense gave off chemicals and particulates.
"Some people may not be aware that plug-in room fresheners and candles emit chemicals," Ms Goetzmann said.
"The answer is to use them sparingly and wisely and then you can enjoy them. Don't put them in children's rooms, because babies and young children are more vulnerable to eye, nose and lung irritation."
Indoor air quality was becoming more important as homes were becoming more energy efficient. Indoor air was not being ventilated or replaced as often, so air quality deteriorated.
Householders should also be careful to ensure their gas heaters were flued and serviced regularly.
2011年9月29日星期四
Bisnis Pemurnian Air Makin Menggiurkan
Bisnis alat pemurnian air ternyata makin menarik. Hal ini dipicu oleh kebutuhan masyarakat yang semakin sadar dengan pentingnya air bersih dan baik untuk dikonsumsi.
Di saat yang sama, kualitas air di kota besar seperti Jakarta memang terus memburuk. Bagi pengusaha, persoalan ini justeru menjadi peluang bisnis. Salah satunya ditunjukkan Coway Co. Perusahaan asal Korea itu menggandeng PT Semangat Sejahtera Bersama untuk mendistribusikan produk pemurnian air (water purifier) merek Coway. Dengan investasi US$ 10 juta, keduanya membentuk PT Coway Indonesia dengan pembagian kepemilikan 51% Coway SSB 49%.
Hendra, Kepala Unit Bisnis Coway Indonesia berpendapat, bisnis pemurni air di Indonesia punya potensi tak kalah bagus dibandingkan negara Asia lainnya. Menurutnya, produk pemurnian air merek Coway dipakai lebih 50% warga Korea. Pun, setahun ini sudah mulai didistribusikan ke Amerika, Eropa, juga Asia.
Hendra bilang, potensi jualan alat pemurnian air di Indonesia tak kalah dari Malaysia dan Hongkong.
"Ini akan mengatasi berbagai problem kualitas air," papar Hendra.
Adapun konsep bisnis alat pemurnian air dengan sewa. Hendra bilang, tarif sewa mulai dari Rp 250.000- Rp 450.000 per bulan. Daya tampung maksimal air mencapai 11 liter dengan daya maksimal 300 watt.
Hendra mengatakan, alat ini cocok untuk keluarga yang setidaknya perlu 60 liter air saban hari. Tidak hanya untuk air minum, tetapi juga air untuk memasak.
"Setiap air mau habis, ada sensor supaya air disaring lagi, jadi alatnya tidak pernah kosong," jelas dia.
Coway menargetkan produknya terjual 1.500 unit hingga akhir tahun. Di awal ini Coway Indonesia membidik penghuni perumahan kawasan elite dan apartemen.
"Langsung difiltrasi dari keran, cocok sekali dengan mereka yang sibuk tapi memerlukan air bersih," terusnya.
Hendra bilang, masa sewa berlangsung 24 bulan. Jika sudah lima tahun, produk itu menjadi milik penyewa. Ia menambahkan, bahwa modal yang disiapkan sekaligus untuk membangun 5-6 kantor di Indonesia hingga akhir tahun. Ini diawali dengan pembukaan kantor cabang di Gading Serpong, Tangerang.
Tampaknya, kehadiran Coway bakal menemani pemain serupa, Advance. Bedanya, produk Advance diperdagangkan dengan cara dijual. Penjualan pemurni air merek Advance tumbuh 10%-15% tahun ini. Angkanya sekitar 700 - 800 unit per bulan. Adapun 55% penjualan datang dari Jakarta.
Apit Haripin, Chairman Advance, mengakui produk pemurnian air tak lagi menjadi milik kalangan menengah ke atas, tetapi juga kalangan menengah.
"Daya beli masyarakat menengah naik karena ekonomi kita membaik, jadi mereka sangat peduli untuk mencari alat agar konsumsi airnya juga bagus," terang Apit.
Saat ini Advance membanderol tiap unit produknya mulai Rp 4 juta sampai Rp 13 juta. Dia optimistis target pertumbuhan penjualan 15% tercapai tahun ini seiring pertumbuhan jumlah keluarga dan daya beli.
Di saat yang sama, kualitas air di kota besar seperti Jakarta memang terus memburuk. Bagi pengusaha, persoalan ini justeru menjadi peluang bisnis. Salah satunya ditunjukkan Coway Co. Perusahaan asal Korea itu menggandeng PT Semangat Sejahtera Bersama untuk mendistribusikan produk pemurnian air (water purifier) merek Coway. Dengan investasi US$ 10 juta, keduanya membentuk PT Coway Indonesia dengan pembagian kepemilikan 51% Coway SSB 49%.
Hendra, Kepala Unit Bisnis Coway Indonesia berpendapat, bisnis pemurni air di Indonesia punya potensi tak kalah bagus dibandingkan negara Asia lainnya. Menurutnya, produk pemurnian air merek Coway dipakai lebih 50% warga Korea. Pun, setahun ini sudah mulai didistribusikan ke Amerika, Eropa, juga Asia.
Hendra bilang, potensi jualan alat pemurnian air di Indonesia tak kalah dari Malaysia dan Hongkong.
"Ini akan mengatasi berbagai problem kualitas air," papar Hendra.
Adapun konsep bisnis alat pemurnian air dengan sewa. Hendra bilang, tarif sewa mulai dari Rp 250.000- Rp 450.000 per bulan. Daya tampung maksimal air mencapai 11 liter dengan daya maksimal 300 watt.
Hendra mengatakan, alat ini cocok untuk keluarga yang setidaknya perlu 60 liter air saban hari. Tidak hanya untuk air minum, tetapi juga air untuk memasak.
"Setiap air mau habis, ada sensor supaya air disaring lagi, jadi alatnya tidak pernah kosong," jelas dia.
Coway menargetkan produknya terjual 1.500 unit hingga akhir tahun. Di awal ini Coway Indonesia membidik penghuni perumahan kawasan elite dan apartemen.
"Langsung difiltrasi dari keran, cocok sekali dengan mereka yang sibuk tapi memerlukan air bersih," terusnya.
Hendra bilang, masa sewa berlangsung 24 bulan. Jika sudah lima tahun, produk itu menjadi milik penyewa. Ia menambahkan, bahwa modal yang disiapkan sekaligus untuk membangun 5-6 kantor di Indonesia hingga akhir tahun. Ini diawali dengan pembukaan kantor cabang di Gading Serpong, Tangerang.
Tampaknya, kehadiran Coway bakal menemani pemain serupa, Advance. Bedanya, produk Advance diperdagangkan dengan cara dijual. Penjualan pemurni air merek Advance tumbuh 10%-15% tahun ini. Angkanya sekitar 700 - 800 unit per bulan. Adapun 55% penjualan datang dari Jakarta.
Apit Haripin, Chairman Advance, mengakui produk pemurnian air tak lagi menjadi milik kalangan menengah ke atas, tetapi juga kalangan menengah.
"Daya beli masyarakat menengah naik karena ekonomi kita membaik, jadi mereka sangat peduli untuk mencari alat agar konsumsi airnya juga bagus," terang Apit.
Saat ini Advance membanderol tiap unit produknya mulai Rp 4 juta sampai Rp 13 juta. Dia optimistis target pertumbuhan penjualan 15% tercapai tahun ini seiring pertumbuhan jumlah keluarga dan daya beli.
2011年9月26日星期一
Proactively preparing for the Smart Grid
With utility costs rising apparently with little end in sight, many building owners and operators view the potential of Smart Grids and their associated technologies with excitement. The transition of the century-old U.S. power grid, which is the largest interconnected web of technology and machinery on Earth, into a Smart Grid has begun, with technological advancements being implemented in transmission efficiency, integration of intermittent power sources such as solar and wind, distributed combined heat and power systems, and smarter buildings.
Already, Smart Grid pilot projects are showing promising results. In North Carolina, 100 Fayetteville residents and businesses cut energy use an average of 20% during a six-month pilot in 2010. As these systems come online, they can have enough impact to reduce the building of new power plants—an expense that is largely borne by the residential and commercial sectors.
On an individual basis, businesses in some areas are reaping minor benefits from Smart Grid technologies such as two-way communication enabled by smart meters. For example, some business owners currently power down noncontinuous, noncritical operations—from computers and printers to production line assemblies—based on real-time utility pricing—during designated times of peak power usage and rates. Even critical machinery such as cooling and refrigeration systems is being duty-cycled periodically without affecting operational effectiveness.
Many commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities allow utilities to bring on power generation assets automatically to meet utility-grid peak demand and manage alternative energy source integration with the electrical power grid. These are the baby steps that only hint at what lies ahead.
Much work and coordination is needed and underway by the utility, building, and government sectors to make widespread Smart Grid deployment a reality. Owners of existing buildings that are not yet able to participate in these programs may be asking their engineers how they can speed up the process.
While it’s beneficial to stay engaged with local utilities and thereby be apprised of available Smart Grid projects, the reality is that outside forces and factors play a large role in when Smart Grid benefits will be available to a given location. Astute engineers can show building owners that analysis of existing configurations now to identify internal operational improvements—and where it is possible to implement them—is the best way to prepare for Smart Grid technology.
These improvements and the data that drive them, both of which focus on making the buildings smart in themselves, provide real-time feedback on the building’s performance through information gathered from smart utility meters, advanced metering systems, building equipment sensors, occupant surveys, and other mechanisms (see Figure 1). Not only do building performance indicators provide management and operations staff with the information to operate a building for maximum economic, environmental, and social performance in the short term, but the data they provide create valuable benchmarks for building performance over time.
An occupant survey is a vital source of information for improving both a building’s performance and the productivity of the occupants within it. Surveys help owners determine which building services and design features work as intended, and where problems are causing the occupants to intervene or be less productive than optimal.
Occupants who are dissatisfied with their environment will install fans, electric heaters, additional lighting, and other personal improvements—all of which can reduce the satisfaction of other occupants and negatively impact operating costs. Fear of reprisal may prohibit occupants from answering surveys honestly, so respondents should be reassured that all comments are welcome and will be handled sensitively.
Surveys should encourage participants to move beyond the typical enhancements to less-common issues. For example, an occupant might be placing paper over air registers/diffusers because he is cold, or running portable air purifiers because he has a perception, however untrue, that the air in the building is not clean.
Occupant surveys should also incorporate concerns for productivity such as ambient noise. If personnel cannot work effectively because the office environment is open or established as a cubicle farm that does not sufficiently dampen the sound of nearby discussions, productivity will be affected. Likewise, perhaps some personnel do not have enough space to perform their work.
Try to uncover every physical constraint and indoor environmental quality complaint and then make a plan to address them. These benefits can be enormous, as productivity savings routinely exceed direct energy cost returns and provide significant savings.
Already, Smart Grid pilot projects are showing promising results. In North Carolina, 100 Fayetteville residents and businesses cut energy use an average of 20% during a six-month pilot in 2010. As these systems come online, they can have enough impact to reduce the building of new power plants—an expense that is largely borne by the residential and commercial sectors.
On an individual basis, businesses in some areas are reaping minor benefits from Smart Grid technologies such as two-way communication enabled by smart meters. For example, some business owners currently power down noncontinuous, noncritical operations—from computers and printers to production line assemblies—based on real-time utility pricing—during designated times of peak power usage and rates. Even critical machinery such as cooling and refrigeration systems is being duty-cycled periodically without affecting operational effectiveness.
Many commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities allow utilities to bring on power generation assets automatically to meet utility-grid peak demand and manage alternative energy source integration with the electrical power grid. These are the baby steps that only hint at what lies ahead.
Much work and coordination is needed and underway by the utility, building, and government sectors to make widespread Smart Grid deployment a reality. Owners of existing buildings that are not yet able to participate in these programs may be asking their engineers how they can speed up the process.
While it’s beneficial to stay engaged with local utilities and thereby be apprised of available Smart Grid projects, the reality is that outside forces and factors play a large role in when Smart Grid benefits will be available to a given location. Astute engineers can show building owners that analysis of existing configurations now to identify internal operational improvements—and where it is possible to implement them—is the best way to prepare for Smart Grid technology.
These improvements and the data that drive them, both of which focus on making the buildings smart in themselves, provide real-time feedback on the building’s performance through information gathered from smart utility meters, advanced metering systems, building equipment sensors, occupant surveys, and other mechanisms (see Figure 1). Not only do building performance indicators provide management and operations staff with the information to operate a building for maximum economic, environmental, and social performance in the short term, but the data they provide create valuable benchmarks for building performance over time.
An occupant survey is a vital source of information for improving both a building’s performance and the productivity of the occupants within it. Surveys help owners determine which building services and design features work as intended, and where problems are causing the occupants to intervene or be less productive than optimal.
Occupants who are dissatisfied with their environment will install fans, electric heaters, additional lighting, and other personal improvements—all of which can reduce the satisfaction of other occupants and negatively impact operating costs. Fear of reprisal may prohibit occupants from answering surveys honestly, so respondents should be reassured that all comments are welcome and will be handled sensitively.
Surveys should encourage participants to move beyond the typical enhancements to less-common issues. For example, an occupant might be placing paper over air registers/diffusers because he is cold, or running portable air purifiers because he has a perception, however untrue, that the air in the building is not clean.
Occupant surveys should also incorporate concerns for productivity such as ambient noise. If personnel cannot work effectively because the office environment is open or established as a cubicle farm that does not sufficiently dampen the sound of nearby discussions, productivity will be affected. Likewise, perhaps some personnel do not have enough space to perform their work.
Try to uncover every physical constraint and indoor environmental quality complaint and then make a plan to address them. These benefits can be enormous, as productivity savings routinely exceed direct energy cost returns and provide significant savings.
2011年9月19日星期一
Watch out, dust mites! Maintenance month is on
Maintenance involving my person is getting more demanding as the years go by. First off, the eyes need attention. They are red, itchy, tearing year-round. After a thorough examination, the optometrist prescribed stronger lenses. She also noted that the lids and lashes are inflamed, needing care. On a piece of paper, she jotted down instructions: wash lashes daily, get medication, buy anti-dust-mite covers for mattresses and pillows. The last item on the list gave me pause. What are dust mites? Never heard of them. I left the optometrist's office somewhat perplexed.
At home, as a first step, I looked up the word "mites" in the dictionary. It said that they are "any of various tiny animals." A procrastinator, I put action on dust mites on the back burner and went on to other items.
Next on the agenda was the yearly blood test with its attendant cholesterol results. I bravely went for the test, but somewhat dreaded the cholesterol numbers, because of my consumption of salami and other items on the forbidden list during the past year.
A visit to my ear-nose-andthroat specialist is also a yearly occurrence. A few years ago, I had to admit that the years had taken their toll and my once-perfect hearing was deteriorating, as had previously happened to my eyesight. Asking people to repeat things or giving the wrong answers was getting embarrassing. Now another hearing test has been scheduled, after which I am due to receive a new hearing aid. I think I will finally have to come to terms with the fact that the place for a hearing aid is in my ear and not in the top drawer of my night table where it usually rests.
Another area needing constant care are my teeth. A visit to the dental hygienist is also on the agenda.
Having taken care of my personal needs, I turned my attention to my surroundings. For one thing, my super stereo radio, part of a fairly old component system, has become quite stubborn lately, refusing to budge from the CJAD station, which I once programmed. A visit from a technician has to be scheduled. The venetian-blind cords, too, are showing their age, getting worn, thin and torn. Must get someone to install new ones.
When I called the vacuum cleaner technician to inspect my faulty machine, I was surprised to see that he did not come alone. After the technician examined my machine and suggested repairs, his lady companion showed me their new product, an attractive cylindrical-shaped air purifier. First though, she activated a hand-held gadget that measured air quality in the room that it judged to be "very bad." The lady explained that this was in part because of dust mites in carpets and upholstery. The air purifier, she said, would reduce dust levels in the air, removing the culprits.
My ears perked up. There they were again, the DUST MITES! Though I did not purchase the rather expensive air purifier then and there, I rushed to the computer to check out "dust mites." Did I get an eyeful!
Seems that dust mites, which are microscopic bugs, live on dead skin cells. Though harmless for most people, their waste products, a major component of house dust, can cause allergic reactions, like wheezing, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, even asthma attacks. Since dust mites love a warm and humid environment, mattresses and pillows on beds are their primary habitat. A typical used mattress can contain tens of thousands of these critters, keeping unsuspecting occupants nightly company. Carpeting and upholstery also harbour large numbers of dust mites.
Thoroughly worried, my research finally prodded me into action. I am now the proud owner and user of nifty anti-dust-mite mattress - and pillow covers. I also pay attention to reducing humidity, letting lots of fresh air into rooms and practicing extra cleanliness.
Meantime, though, considering that I am surrounded with dust mites in the rooms and that germs and bacteria are lurking in the kitchen, I decided it would be best to wear a protective armour around the house.
At home, as a first step, I looked up the word "mites" in the dictionary. It said that they are "any of various tiny animals." A procrastinator, I put action on dust mites on the back burner and went on to other items.
Next on the agenda was the yearly blood test with its attendant cholesterol results. I bravely went for the test, but somewhat dreaded the cholesterol numbers, because of my consumption of salami and other items on the forbidden list during the past year.
A visit to my ear-nose-andthroat specialist is also a yearly occurrence. A few years ago, I had to admit that the years had taken their toll and my once-perfect hearing was deteriorating, as had previously happened to my eyesight. Asking people to repeat things or giving the wrong answers was getting embarrassing. Now another hearing test has been scheduled, after which I am due to receive a new hearing aid. I think I will finally have to come to terms with the fact that the place for a hearing aid is in my ear and not in the top drawer of my night table where it usually rests.
Another area needing constant care are my teeth. A visit to the dental hygienist is also on the agenda.
Having taken care of my personal needs, I turned my attention to my surroundings. For one thing, my super stereo radio, part of a fairly old component system, has become quite stubborn lately, refusing to budge from the CJAD station, which I once programmed. A visit from a technician has to be scheduled. The venetian-blind cords, too, are showing their age, getting worn, thin and torn. Must get someone to install new ones.
When I called the vacuum cleaner technician to inspect my faulty machine, I was surprised to see that he did not come alone. After the technician examined my machine and suggested repairs, his lady companion showed me their new product, an attractive cylindrical-shaped air purifier. First though, she activated a hand-held gadget that measured air quality in the room that it judged to be "very bad." The lady explained that this was in part because of dust mites in carpets and upholstery. The air purifier, she said, would reduce dust levels in the air, removing the culprits.
My ears perked up. There they were again, the DUST MITES! Though I did not purchase the rather expensive air purifier then and there, I rushed to the computer to check out "dust mites." Did I get an eyeful!
Seems that dust mites, which are microscopic bugs, live on dead skin cells. Though harmless for most people, their waste products, a major component of house dust, can cause allergic reactions, like wheezing, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, even asthma attacks. Since dust mites love a warm and humid environment, mattresses and pillows on beds are their primary habitat. A typical used mattress can contain tens of thousands of these critters, keeping unsuspecting occupants nightly company. Carpeting and upholstery also harbour large numbers of dust mites.
Thoroughly worried, my research finally prodded me into action. I am now the proud owner and user of nifty anti-dust-mite mattress - and pillow covers. I also pay attention to reducing humidity, letting lots of fresh air into rooms and practicing extra cleanliness.
Meantime, though, considering that I am surrounded with dust mites in the rooms and that germs and bacteria are lurking in the kitchen, I decided it would be best to wear a protective armour around the house.
2011年9月12日星期一
Zadoozy Announces New Warehouse/Showroom Address
Zadoozy, a national ecommerce company on a mission to save busy, health-conscious consumers time, money and frustration by offering only the best products that promote a healthy, clean home, today announced that it has moved into a new warehouse/showroom in Vernon Hills, Illinois. The new showroom and warehouse will allow Zadoozy to house both its sales and administrative offices along with its warehouse and shipping department under one roof.
The new address is 1000 Butterfield Road, Suite 1029, Vernon Hills, Illinois.
Zadoozy, a take on the slang term 'doozy,' meaning something that is extraordinary, has tested hundreds of products and offers only those that have passed their toughest tests—like IQAir air purifiers, Miele vacuum cleaners and Ladybug vapor steam cleaners.
“Zadoozy will help health-conscious consumers across the nation who don’t have the time to comparison shop for themselves,” says a company spokesperson. “Thanks to a talented team of Web designers, architects and engineers, we’ve assembled the best of the best in one secure, easy to use destination.”
Zadoozy is so confident that shoppers you will love their products that they offer a 90-day, no questions asked, money back promise.
The new address is 1000 Butterfield Road, Suite 1029, Vernon Hills, Illinois.
Zadoozy, a take on the slang term 'doozy,' meaning something that is extraordinary, has tested hundreds of products and offers only those that have passed their toughest tests—like IQAir air purifiers, Miele vacuum cleaners and Ladybug vapor steam cleaners.
“Zadoozy will help health-conscious consumers across the nation who don’t have the time to comparison shop for themselves,” says a company spokesperson. “Thanks to a talented team of Web designers, architects and engineers, we’ve assembled the best of the best in one secure, easy to use destination.”
Zadoozy is so confident that shoppers you will love their products that they offer a 90-day, no questions asked, money back promise.
2011年6月20日星期一
Can Technology Rescue the Sprouts Industry?
While scientists are scrambling to pinpoint the cause of the E. coli outbreak linked to bean and seed sprouts in northern Germany, a veteran sprouts system designer believes he has developed the technology that can produce "the perfect sprout."
As of June 20, the outbreak had killed 39 people and sickened more than 3,000.
"If this technology had been used in the EU, those people would still be alive. I have no doubt about it," Lincoln Neal, president of Tennessee-based Quicksilver Automated Systems (www.qasc.com/index.html), told Food Safety News.
According to the company's website, Quicksilver provides state-of the art purification, propagation and processing systems for the largest sprout companies in North America.
Neal thinks the pathogen that caused the E. coli outbreak in Germany likely came in on the seeds, a conjecture that echoes warnings to sprout growers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that seeds are most often the source of most sprout-associated outbreaks.
For that reason, the agency recommends that sprout growers soak the seeds in a strong disinfecting solution, such as 20,000 ppm calcium hypochlorite, before sprouting them.
But Neal, a mechanical systems designer with a focus on disinfection, who describes himself as "a bit of a germophobe," said soaking the seeds in a strong disinfecting solution at the onset just isn't enough because the pathogens can lodge themselves into cracks and crevasses in the seeds.
Those cracks and crevasses, which he said in the microscopic world can be as large as the Grand Canyon, can provide safe harbor for the wily pathogens.
To make things more challenging yet, the seeds have a "somewhat oily surface" that can repel water. As a result, the surface tension on the outside of the seed can prevent the disinfectant from going into the cracks and crevasses in the seeds.
Neal compares that situation to the water that pools into droplets on the surface of a freshly waxed car.
He warns that if a sprout grower only disinfects the seeds at the beginning of the sprouting process, pathogens could still be lurking in the seeds, especially since sprout growers typically soak their seeds in disinfectant for only about an hour.
Neal also said that contrary to what some people in the industry assert, bacteria such as E. coli can not only hide in the microscopic cracks but can also get inside the sprouting seeds through those cracks.
Neal believes that the solution to that dilemma is easy enough: Use a method that sanitizes the seeds as they're sprouting.
"We focus on the first 24 to 36 hours," he said of his method
According to the company's information about its Emerald Purifier/Sprouter, the equipment can get rid of embedded pathogens inside the seed shell by repeatedly flushing the inside of the seed hull with disinfectant solution at the moments it "changes, opens, 'morphs,' and detaches to release the sprout.
"Bacteria-occupied air cups and pockets are flushed out and disinfected," says the company literature. "Full automatic wash cycles occur as the seed pops open and the microbes become exposed."
"We go in when the seed is changing and by doing that we can get into the seed," Neal said. "The machine persistently and automatically washes the product."
Neal said that if the pathogens aren't caught early on in the process, they can get into the sprouts themselves and that no amount of spray misting a disinfectant onto them can reach every square micron of the sprouts.
"Nipping it in the bud early on in the process is essential," he said, adding that persistent disinfection doesn't erode the nutritional value of the seeds and "is in full accord with the life process of the sprouts."
"It doesn't compromise germination or weaken it," he said.
Looking at another FDA guideline for producing sprouts that involves testing the spent irrigation water that has flowed over the seeds, Neal sees drawbacks. FDA's thinking behind that approach is that if there were any pathogens on the seeds themselves, they would multiply under the warm, moist conditions the seeds are sprouted in. If the testing, which typically occurs 48 hours into the sprouting process, reveals the presence of pathogens, then that batch can be thrown away, thus keeping it out of the marketplace.
But Neal said that as valuable as testing is, sprouting is a "hurry-up" sort of industry when it comes to shipping the fresh sprouts out to customers. For that reason, sometimes the sprouts are sent out before the test results of the spent irrigation water come back.
And even if a test-and-hold approach were adopted, Neal said that if the pathogens are deep inside the seed, the water won't be able to reach them. They could actually be trapped and not be able to get out.
"It's rare, but it could happen," he said.
Then, too, Neal said that even with the safeguards many sprout growers are using, including FDA's guidelines, a sobering fact keeps emerging: "Somehow these pathogens are getting by these sprouters."
"That's why I think upfront methods must be incorporated," he said. "You've got to come in again and again and again to get the pathogens out. You have to be persistent -- more persistent than the microbes. They've got brilliant programming in them to stay alive."
These pathogens can be virulent. According to the FDA, a single surviving bacterium in a kilogram of seed can be enough to contaminate a whole batch of seeds.
Neal, who says he was called upon by the industry in 1985 to develop a sprout manufacturing package, has focused on modernizing an industry that had previously been more of a "flower-child kind of business."
Fast forward to the present, and Neal says he's probably designed more sprouting equipment "than anyone on the planet."
Back then, immediate questions before him were "How can this problem be solved?" "And where are these pathogens coming from and what's allowing them to proliferate."
When evaluating the potential of his equipment to produce the perfect sprout, Neal said there are no "absolutes in microbiology."
"But if the sprout growers follow our methods and don't cheat, they can virtually eliminate the pathogens," he said.
As of June 20, the outbreak had killed 39 people and sickened more than 3,000.
"If this technology had been used in the EU, those people would still be alive. I have no doubt about it," Lincoln Neal, president of Tennessee-based Quicksilver Automated Systems (www.qasc.com/index.html), told Food Safety News.
According to the company's website, Quicksilver provides state-of the art purification, propagation and processing systems for the largest sprout companies in North America.
Neal thinks the pathogen that caused the E. coli outbreak in Germany likely came in on the seeds, a conjecture that echoes warnings to sprout growers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that seeds are most often the source of most sprout-associated outbreaks.
For that reason, the agency recommends that sprout growers soak the seeds in a strong disinfecting solution, such as 20,000 ppm calcium hypochlorite, before sprouting them.
But Neal, a mechanical systems designer with a focus on disinfection, who describes himself as "a bit of a germophobe," said soaking the seeds in a strong disinfecting solution at the onset just isn't enough because the pathogens can lodge themselves into cracks and crevasses in the seeds.
Those cracks and crevasses, which he said in the microscopic world can be as large as the Grand Canyon, can provide safe harbor for the wily pathogens.
To make things more challenging yet, the seeds have a "somewhat oily surface" that can repel water. As a result, the surface tension on the outside of the seed can prevent the disinfectant from going into the cracks and crevasses in the seeds.
Neal compares that situation to the water that pools into droplets on the surface of a freshly waxed car.
He warns that if a sprout grower only disinfects the seeds at the beginning of the sprouting process, pathogens could still be lurking in the seeds, especially since sprout growers typically soak their seeds in disinfectant for only about an hour.
Neal also said that contrary to what some people in the industry assert, bacteria such as E. coli can not only hide in the microscopic cracks but can also get inside the sprouting seeds through those cracks.
Neal believes that the solution to that dilemma is easy enough: Use a method that sanitizes the seeds as they're sprouting.
"We focus on the first 24 to 36 hours," he said of his method
According to the company's information about its Emerald Purifier/Sprouter, the equipment can get rid of embedded pathogens inside the seed shell by repeatedly flushing the inside of the seed hull with disinfectant solution at the moments it "changes, opens, 'morphs,' and detaches to release the sprout.
"Bacteria-occupied air cups and pockets are flushed out and disinfected," says the company literature. "Full automatic wash cycles occur as the seed pops open and the microbes become exposed."
"We go in when the seed is changing and by doing that we can get into the seed," Neal said. "The machine persistently and automatically washes the product."
Neal said that if the pathogens aren't caught early on in the process, they can get into the sprouts themselves and that no amount of spray misting a disinfectant onto them can reach every square micron of the sprouts.
"Nipping it in the bud early on in the process is essential," he said, adding that persistent disinfection doesn't erode the nutritional value of the seeds and "is in full accord with the life process of the sprouts."
"It doesn't compromise germination or weaken it," he said.
Looking at another FDA guideline for producing sprouts that involves testing the spent irrigation water that has flowed over the seeds, Neal sees drawbacks. FDA's thinking behind that approach is that if there were any pathogens on the seeds themselves, they would multiply under the warm, moist conditions the seeds are sprouted in. If the testing, which typically occurs 48 hours into the sprouting process, reveals the presence of pathogens, then that batch can be thrown away, thus keeping it out of the marketplace.
But Neal said that as valuable as testing is, sprouting is a "hurry-up" sort of industry when it comes to shipping the fresh sprouts out to customers. For that reason, sometimes the sprouts are sent out before the test results of the spent irrigation water come back.
And even if a test-and-hold approach were adopted, Neal said that if the pathogens are deep inside the seed, the water won't be able to reach them. They could actually be trapped and not be able to get out.
"It's rare, but it could happen," he said.
Then, too, Neal said that even with the safeguards many sprout growers are using, including FDA's guidelines, a sobering fact keeps emerging: "Somehow these pathogens are getting by these sprouters."
"That's why I think upfront methods must be incorporated," he said. "You've got to come in again and again and again to get the pathogens out. You have to be persistent -- more persistent than the microbes. They've got brilliant programming in them to stay alive."
These pathogens can be virulent. According to the FDA, a single surviving bacterium in a kilogram of seed can be enough to contaminate a whole batch of seeds.
Neal, who says he was called upon by the industry in 1985 to develop a sprout manufacturing package, has focused on modernizing an industry that had previously been more of a "flower-child kind of business."
Fast forward to the present, and Neal says he's probably designed more sprouting equipment "than anyone on the planet."
Back then, immediate questions before him were "How can this problem be solved?" "And where are these pathogens coming from and what's allowing them to proliferate."
When evaluating the potential of his equipment to produce the perfect sprout, Neal said there are no "absolutes in microbiology."
"But if the sprout growers follow our methods and don't cheat, they can virtually eliminate the pathogens," he said.
2011年5月25日星期三
Singapore stock market and companies daily report
Hour Glass Delivers Record Profit On Higher Margins
Luxury watch group The Hour Glass delivered a record profit for the full year ended 31 Mar-11, with the bottom line jumping 29.1% from $32.8m to $42.4m. This in turn brings earnings per share to 18.1 cents, up from the previously 14.1 cents. The improvement was underpinned by the higher revenue, which climbed 7% from $483.7m to $517.6m, attributed to the expansion of its multi-brand retail network. For the year, gross margins grew from 20.1% to 22.4%, due to the implementation of various marketing programmes as well as more positive trading conditions. A first and final dividend of five cents has been recommended.
Significance: According to its website, The Hour Glass has boutiques in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Demand for timepieces in the region, with the exception of Japan, is likely to be sustained. The company however cautions that inflationary pressures could drive up operating costs, ‘especially those related to personnel and rental’.
Valuetronics’ Full Year Profit More Than Doubles
Valuetronics Holdings (Valuetronics), an integrated electronics manufacturing service provider, reported a delightful set of full year results for the period ending 31 Mar-11. Revenue spiked substantially by 73.4% from HK$1.1b to HK$2b, leading profit to more than double from HK$58.8m to HK$121m. Improvement was seen in revenue contribution of both original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and original design manufacturer (ODM) business segments, which were boosted by increased sales orders and launch of new products from major customers. The company has proposed a first and final dividend of 14 HK cents per share for the year.
United Envirotech’s FY11 Profit Climbs 7.8%
United Envirotech posted a profit increase of 7.8% from $14.9m to $16m for the financial year ended 31 Mar-11. The top line rose 12.8% from $69m to $78m, supported by growth in the engineering and treatment segments. Revenue from the engineering business grew 9.2% to $62m, however its segmental profit contribution shrank $5.5m or 38.7% to $8.7m due to changes in the contract mix. Revenue from the treatment business jumped 29.9% to $16m underpinned by the increased treatment capacity at the current plants, its profit contribution continued the uptrend by rising $1.1m or 14.7%. For the year, a final dividend of 0.30 cents has been declared.
Luxury watch group The Hour Glass delivered a record profit for the full year ended 31 Mar-11, with the bottom line jumping 29.1% from $32.8m to $42.4m. This in turn brings earnings per share to 18.1 cents, up from the previously 14.1 cents. The improvement was underpinned by the higher revenue, which climbed 7% from $483.7m to $517.6m, attributed to the expansion of its multi-brand retail network. For the year, gross margins grew from 20.1% to 22.4%, due to the implementation of various marketing programmes as well as more positive trading conditions. A first and final dividend of five cents has been recommended.
Significance: According to its website, The Hour Glass has boutiques in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Demand for timepieces in the region, with the exception of Japan, is likely to be sustained. The company however cautions that inflationary pressures could drive up operating costs, ‘especially those related to personnel and rental’.
Valuetronics’ Full Year Profit More Than Doubles
Valuetronics Holdings (Valuetronics), an integrated electronics manufacturing service provider, reported a delightful set of full year results for the period ending 31 Mar-11. Revenue spiked substantially by 73.4% from HK$1.1b to HK$2b, leading profit to more than double from HK$58.8m to HK$121m. Improvement was seen in revenue contribution of both original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and original design manufacturer (ODM) business segments, which were boosted by increased sales orders and launch of new products from major customers. The company has proposed a first and final dividend of 14 HK cents per share for the year.
United Envirotech’s FY11 Profit Climbs 7.8%
United Envirotech posted a profit increase of 7.8% from $14.9m to $16m for the financial year ended 31 Mar-11. The top line rose 12.8% from $69m to $78m, supported by growth in the engineering and treatment segments. Revenue from the engineering business grew 9.2% to $62m, however its segmental profit contribution shrank $5.5m or 38.7% to $8.7m due to changes in the contract mix. Revenue from the treatment business jumped 29.9% to $16m underpinned by the increased treatment capacity at the current plants, its profit contribution continued the uptrend by rising $1.1m or 14.7%. For the year, a final dividend of 0.30 cents has been declared.
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